GDC 2025 Session Viewer

How do you define a "good" adaptation? Is it better to bring elements of the original material over whole cloth, or can you create authenticity through feeling and emotion? And how do you make sure that adaptation is engaging to dedicated fans seeking it out AND new players who might stumble upon it in a game shop?

In this case study of Survivor: The Tribe Has Spoken, Ian Clayman will explain how he, show host and producer Jeff Probst, and the team at Exploding Kittens, Inc., tackled these creative challenges through the lens of adaptation theory.

Takeaway

Attendees will walk away with a greater appreciation for the creative challenges involved in adapting other forms of media to card and board games, how to balance the considerations of dedicated fans and the general audience, and practical examples of how to solve these problems.

Intended Audience

This talk is targeted primarily at tabletop game designers, developers, and publishers who are interested in creating games based on existing IP, but is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn more about adapting other media to tabletop games. Design experience is encouraged, but not required.